Last week we supported Southwark Council’s Faith Leaders Conference on Food Inequality and Dignity, held at Council offices. Over 70 representatives from a range of faith groups attended. After prayers and welcomes and some delicious food from Walworth Living Room, the conference opened with speeches on community and food insecurity from Cllr Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Communities, Equalities & Finance, Southwark Council; Ruth Koch, London Network Lead, The Trussell Trust; and Cllr Evelyn Akoto, Cabinet member for Health & Wellbeing, Southwark Council.

There was an opportunity for faith leaders to learn directly from groups (and SFAA members) in Southwark about the different types of community food projects they operate, including food banks, pantries, food growing, community cafes, food cooperatives and campaigning (from Trussell Trust). Chris Price also facilitated a mini workshop on dignity, asking attendees to think about what dignity meant to them and what they wanted to see as part of dignity in food security in their faith communities.

It was wonderful to meet so many members of the faith communities in Southwark and we hope that everyone learned a lot about food insecurity and dignity.